Customizable- 3D Printable Keyguard for Grid-based- Free-form- and Hybrid AAC Apps on Tablets

Keyguards help individuals with limited ability to point reliably at regions of an app running on a tablet. They do this by physically separating access to specific regions of the tablet screen with rails that rise up from the surface of the tablet. In this case, the apps are associated with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Some AAC apps organize their content into grids with menus and message bars, above or below the grid. Others are much more creative and unpredictable in their layouts. Hybrid apps are largely grid-based but their keyguards can be enhanced by selectively exposing specific regions of the app.

The number of possible choices for tablet, tablet case, and AAC app, make it impossible to design a few keyguards that will meet everyone’s needs. To complicate matters further, users have lots of flexibility for how they organize the content in their apps. All of this is to say that users must be given control over the keyguard design. design that allows the user to identify their tablet, describe how the AAC app is laid out, describe their case, and choose a mounting method to mount the keyguard directly to the tablet or to the case. Once the keyguard is fully described you can generate and save an STL file that you can print on your 3D printer.

This version is for a 3D printed keyguard. Please use this project to request a laser-cut keyguard.

After printing the keyguard, it can be affixed to the tablet, and the app used as normal with the keyguard to separate the buttons.

This device is intended for users that use AAC (Augmented and Alternative communication) apps on a tablet.

The only skills involved in this project is beginner level 3D printing.

To make a custom 3D printed keyguard, visit the Volkswitch site to and follow along with the comprehensive instructions. You’ll need to make the necessary measurements of the tablet and the app to change the OpenSCAD design parameters and generate the custom STL file for 3D printing. The OpenSCAD design file is available on Thingiverse and Printables.

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